Quarry Slaves 

A Drama by 

Lee Byrne 




19 c4 
Copyrightl^'* 

COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT. 



QUARRY SLAVES 

A DRAMA BY LEE BYRNE 




THE POET-LORE COMPANY 

BOSTON, NINETEEN HUNDRED AND FOUR 



Copyrig-ht, 1904, by Lee Byrne 
All Rights Reserved 



■ » A»iii I I n ii ■a a-sv" ' 



LIBRARY ot CONGRESS 
Two Copies Received 

APR 19 1904 
^ Oopyrleht Entry 



GLASS 



Xq. No. 



Printed at 

The Gorhant Press 

Boston, U.S.A. 



PERSONS 

^ ANDROGENUS, a powerful slave, hardly thirty 
years old in appearance . 

HIS SON, a frail boy, apparently about fourteen 
in Scene I. 

GERON, a decrepit old slave,, friendly to Andro- 
\ genus. 

X CYON, a vigorous old slave ^ hostile to Andro- 
' genius. 

Other Slaves, 

Children, 

■ SCENE 

A Sicilian underground quarry,, some years 
after the Athenian expedition against Syracuse. 



QUARRY SLAVES 

FIRST SCENE 

[Andkogenus is discovered trying- to pene- 
trate the rock wall on left. He works some 
tifne alone and in silence when enter his son, 
who seeks to assist hini.~\ 
And. Wilt thou too labor, boy? 
Son Suffer me, father. 

And. This from thy love ; yet knewest the goal 

I seek, 
Then truly wouldst thou crave one shard to move 
To strain the fissure but an inch more wide. 
Son Dimly I know, for often hast thou told 
Of upper air and fields and flowers and stars. 
A?id. Which thou hast never seen, thy radiant 

youth 
Darkened beneath this roof, within these walls. 

\_There is a crumbling of the rock above and 
both are startled.~\ 

5 



6 QUARRY SLAVES 

Son Ah me, the rock. Hence, father, ere it 

crush thee. 
And. I merely loose it, boy ; do thou withdraw. 

S^A great fragment falls to the ground. '\ 
Son Ah ! how I fright me. Father, I beg, desist. 
Rest and relate me more ; plague not the rock 

fiends. 
And. Here are we slaves to men, yet not to fate. 
Then better a heavy death, hope keeping us 

human, 
Than servile bondage to a shameful lot. 
Son True, sire, but tell again of the world 

beyond. 
And. I fain would please thee ; here thou hast 

little indeed. 

\^He ceases work.^ 
Son Thou sayest above the hills are clothed with 

green ; 
The hue I picture vainly. 
And. Like thine eyes. 

Son But them I see not. Like to thine as well? 
And. Nay — to thy mother's, her we covered 

here, 
Who, dying, cried upon the sun, yet passed 



QUARRY SLAVES 7 

The sunless Styx in darkness. 

Son 'Tis this sun 

Thou sayest illumines the air of upper realms — 

And. Blazing its splendor over all the land. 

Son And is it too as the grass ? 

And. Nay golden as 

Thy hair, but with a glory blinding man. 

Son And that folk sleep it leaves the land in 

gloom — 
And. Save for the jewels of the sky — 
Son The stars — 

And. And eke that pale and silvery sun — 
Son Ah me, 

And is the day or night more beauteous? 
And. One starry night, my son, would make 

man rich ; 
One day excite the envy of the gods. 
Son Ah, let us not delay ; haste we to freedom. 
And. 'Tis a long road ; we needs must rest 

betimes. 
So7i I thirst for upper air ; sit we not idle. 
And. Even so, my son. Strive we again with 

the rock. 
[ They resume the labor* Enter gradually a 



8 QUARRY SLAVES 

group of quarry slaves i?icludi7ig Geron and 

Cyon.] 

ist Slave Still digging, Androgenus? 

And. Aye, friends ; lend a hand if ye would win 

liberty. 
2d Slave We ache with the toil of the day. 
^d Slave One cannot do two days' work in one. 
ist Slave Let us help him a bit ; he is a good 

friend. 
[ They set to work lastly. ~\ 
2d Slave How soon expect you the daylight this 

time ? 
And. 'Tis with the gods. Man can only toil 

and wait. 
^d Slave Toil and wait for the end — that is our 

life surely. 
And. Toil and wait hopefully for deliverance. 
ist Slave Aye, if one try he is doing all he can 

at least. 
\_E7iter others who scoff at the laborers. ~\ 
^fh Slave Digging for gold they are ; see them 

lay into it. 
Cyon Have ye not enough with one day's work, 

men ? 



QLTARRY SLAVES 9 

^d Slave Aye, let us rest. 
2d Slave Indeed I am weary. 
Cyon Let the madman do his own digging. 
/fth Slave Come, comrades, have a cheer. 
\_All cease work except Androgenus and his son.'\ 
And. Your bodies are bondmen ; be not slaves 
in soul. Fight the good fight for freedom. If ye 
win ye gain life for death ; if ye fail ye die fight- 
ing even as your fathers of old. 
^.th Slave Our bones ache enough. 
^d Slave Aye, and you fight the fight only when 

fancy takes you. 
And. True, alas, I am human ; yet is the god 

not dead within me. 
Come, I exhort you ; rise above the life of beasts. 
Cyon Not beasts, stripling ; men, submissive to 

destiny. 
And. Ah, blush, thou gray-beard who would 

make men unmanly. 
Cyon I fought in arms, O mad one, when thou 
didst follow camp. Teach not me the manly and 
the unmanly. And who art thou to disturb men's 
peace of heart and inflame the minds of children 
with what the gods have denied ? 



10 QUARRY SLAVES 

^th Slave Aye, he teaches the quarry-born youth 

of the upper life. 
A7id. Would ye have them servile- minded even 

as ye are servile-minded? 
Cyon We would have them left in peace. Fill 
not their minds with the hell of discontent, nay, 
nor ours, if we will to forget. Is our lot unen- 
durable? Have we not strength sufficient for it? 
Have we not food in plenty, rest, and sweet 
sleep ? Who knows that beyond Styx we shall not 
yearn for these stony caverns? Wake not the 
memory of man when it slumbereth, lest it rage 
and do him hurt. Thou and thy hewing — reckon 
thyself favored indeed if we suffer thee to exploit 
thy follies. What of detection? What of crum- 
bling roofs? What of inpouring ocean? Have 
thy whims, O stripling, but leave us security while 
it is ours ; leave us peace if we can attain it. 

[^Exeunt Cyo7i and slowly the other slaves. 
Androgenus, so?newhat dazed., continues his 
work in silence, assisted by his son, old Geron 
alone looking on. At length the son grows weary 
atid falls asleep. Androgenus himself desists 
and sits watching the boy. Geron approaches.'] 



QUARRY SLAVES 11 

Geron Thou sayest the god within thee is not 

dead. 
Well said, O youth ; keep thou thy spirit nourished. 
Though man help not, thine is a strength luxuriant. 
Pursue thy course and may the Heavens aid thee. 
Afid. I thank thee for thy word. 
Geron Mine own arm fails ; 

I may not give the help I would. Take heart. 
Do not despond at Cyon's bitter counsel. 
Up, youth ; on with thy task with favoring gods. 
And. Nay, when the fit is on me ; now I cling 
Within a melancholy maze of doubt. 
\^Exit Geron a7ixious.'\ 



SECOND SCENE 

A Tear Later 

[Androgenus is discovered hewing- again^ 
but this time on the other side. So?ne slaves 
pass, jesting at his zvork. Then enter a group 
of children who stand adjniring him. Geron 
has also e?itered.'\ 

Geron Disturb ye not the toiler. 

1st Child He must teach us. 

Geron A greater task detains him now. 
1st Child Always 

He gladly leaves aught else that we may learn. 
And. Ah, precious spirits darkly nursed, again 
Search ye for wisdom ? 

Children Aye, Androgenus. 

Geron Youth, let them learn from these old 
lips. Alas, 



QUARRY SLAVES 13 

I cannot hew, nor carry yet, nor carve 
A way to freedom, as with god's help thou shalt, 
Despite thy fellows lingering base behind. 
Then let me learned in lore more old than thine 
Illumine their dark minds. Take thou thine eyes 
No moment from thy heaven-given goal. 
And. Shall then good Geron teach you? 
Children Nay, thyself. 

And. So be it. The spark must live. And 

what today? 
ist Child The Persians. 
Children Aye, the Persians. 

And. Then the Persians. 

[Androgenus sits on a stone with the children 
arou7id him.'] 
And. There came the messengers of mighty 

Xerxes 
Commanding earth and water from the Greeks 
In token of obedience. And the Greeks 
Gave them their earth and water. 
Children No, no, no. 

And. Why think ye not? 
ist Child Not so our ancestors. 

And. Aye, throwing Xerxes' heralds in a well 



14 QUARRY SLAVES 

They bid them seek their tribute. And the King 
Collected his vast arm}^, such the earth 
Hath never seen. Crossing the Hellespont 
They poured upon us hordes beyond counting. 
Even ocean their vast armaments did cover. 
Then Athens, needs retreating from the land, 
Consigned her to Poseidon, and the King 
Prepared for final triumph on the ocean. 
ist Child Yes, yes — the battle. 
And, I cannot relate. 

ist Child Nay, tell us of the fight. 
Childre7i Yes, tell the battle. 

And. My tongue were dumb to picture what 

ensued — 
But you shall hear the Athenian poet's words : * 
" And when day bright to look on with white 

steeds 
O'erspread the earth, then from the Greeks pro- 
ceeds 
Loud chant of cry of battle, and the while 
Echo gave answer from each rocky isle. 
The Hellenes then their solemn pasan sang ; 
Throughout the ranks the martial trumpet rang. 
* Rhymed from Plu^nptre's blank verse translation. 



QUARRY SLAVES 15 

Swift swept the loud oars through the foaming 

wave, 
And first in order moved the right wing brave. 
Next the whole line its forward course began, 
And forth along a mighty shouting ran : 
' O sons of Hellenes, forward, free your homes. 
Shrines to your fathers' gods, and holy tombs 
Your ancestors now rest in. Free from thrall 
Yourselves, your wives, your children, and your 

all.' 
Arose in answer murmur of Persian speech. 
The time to wait was over. Forward each 
Dashed its bronze-pointed beak, and with a din 
A Grecian trireme did the strife begin, 
Crashing from Persian craft its prow away ; 
Then each against his neighbor did essay. 
First firmly held the Persian armament, 
But when the ships within the strait were pent 
Then they with bronzen beaks and mutual shocks 
Went crashing each the other as on rocks. 
The agile Grecians, fewer, darting fierce 
Where'er a Persian oarbank they might pierce. 
Capsized, the hulls lay floating, and the sea 



16 QUARRY SLAVES 

Was covered with the wreckage and debris, 

And Asian corpses floated on the wave, 

Or, stranded, lay on rocks, too late to save. 

Hence last in headlong flight the Grecians sent 

All that remained of Persian armament. 

And bitter groans and waitings overspread 

The wide sea wave until night overhead 

Prevailing bade all cease. The Persian ill 

Recounted large a ten-day time would fill. 

Be sure such hordes Poseidon then did hide 

As never yet on single day had died." 

ist Child O glorious victory ! But still on land 

The King had numbers vast. 

And. And they full soon 

Tasted what fare their brethren on the sea. 

Back to his Persian palaces the King 

Departed and no more tried Grecian valor. 

ist Child And died not many Greeks as well as 

Persians ? 
And. Aye, but their death — again let poet speak. 
Hear ye the epitaph on them that died. 
First on our fathers. 
ist Child Speak the epitaph. 



QUARRY SLAVES 17 

And. " If they be blessed whom noble death 
enfold, 

To us of all men Fortune gave this grace ; 

For hastening freedom's crown on Greece to place 

We lie possessed of praise that grows not old." 

ist Child O noble epitaph ! 

And. And on the others : 

" These men to Greece a crown of glory gave ; 

Then, cloud-enwrapped of death, passed from 
high earth ; 

Yet being dead they died not, for their worth 

Lifts them in glory even from the grave." * 
\_The children express pleasure. '\ 

And. Such were our sires who dwelt on upper 
earth. 

2d Child And must we ever linger in these 
shades ? 

ist Child Nay, for Androgenus doth daily delve, 

And one day he will lead us to the light. 

A7id. Aye, ye believe. That will I, gods per- 
mitting. 

ist Child Come we and help thee delve, O noble 
Androgenus. 
* Rhymed from MackaiV s prose. 



18 QUARRY SLAVES 

2d Child Aye, come ; we too must hew. 
And. So be it, children. 

\_He proceeds with his hewing^ they giving him 
some sort of assistance. But they gradually weary 
and depart hi silence till at last he is left alone. 
He filially seats himself ., head in hands., in silent 
gloo?n.'] 



THIRD SCENE 

A Year Later 

[ The excavations on the two sides are seen to be 
abandoned a7id partly filled in. One now seems 
to be in progress i7i the center^ but how far the 
work has g07ie cannot be seen as the tunnel has a 
turn^ leavi7ig the end out of sight. The sounds of 
digging are heard within. Two elderly slaves of 
the better kind are discovered conversing .'\ 
ist Slave Hark, bear him hew ; he digs and 

digs and digs 
What time the task-men let him. Thus his life 
In fruitless toil is spent. 

2d Slave What better we ? 

Do our days bring us profit ? 
ist Slave Nay, alas, 

Nor pleasure save a melancholy one. 
To sit and ponder o'er our evil lot. 
19 



20 QUARRY SLAVES 

Yet he might rest. 
2d Slave Perchance in this employ 
His body's labor brings calm to his mind 
Else unattained. But hist, is that his cry? 

[Androgenus is heard exclahning from the 
passage. The old 'me7i listen, hi a moment 
Androgenus rushes forth, greatly excited. '\ 
A7id. Where is he, Cleon? Man, art dead? 

Reply. 
Where is he, where? 

2d Slave Alas, O youth, whom call you? 

A?id. My son, my son — whom else? Where is 

the lad ? 
2d Slave I know not, sir. 

And. Go tell him ere my news 

Strangle me in its bulk ; go tell him, Cleon. 
2d Slave But, sir, I know not — 
And. Go, good Cleon, go. 

After these years events come with a rush. 
Delay then not the precious tidings ; go. 
2d Slave I gladly go, yet, sir, my message know 

not. 
And. Its impact makes me weak. Go fetch the 
boy. 



QUARRY SLAVES 21 

'Tis freedom, light, Elysium, air, the sun. 

Go fetch the boy. My tongue alone can tell him. 

2d Slave I go, good sir, yet fear this strong 

excitement. 
\_Exit 2d Slave. Androgenus sinks to a 
seal.'] 
ist Slave Relate, I pray thee, that which gives 

thee joy. 
Thou hast not reached the air of upper earth? 
And. Not yet the air, my friend, but as I dug, 
Parting the rocky fragments as they fell. 
Varying the noise of smiting with a song, 
I hushed — methought a murmur reached mine 

ear, 
And straining with the stillness of the dead 
I listened, yearning, calling on the gods. 
And then I heard distinct — 

jst Slave Haste, haste, good youth — 

And. The beat of ocean on a wall of rock. 
ist Slave Cease thy infernal work. The waters 

o'er us 
Will burst into our world and all will perish. 
Afid. Nay — to mine ear the sound came from 

below, 



22 QUARRY SLAVES 

Far off and from below. 

ist Slave Thou knowest not — 

Above or under, like would be the sound. 

Thou bringest death. Leave off, man, ere we 

bind thee. 
And. I say below. Long have I toiled with 

chisel ; 
Deny me not the labor of my years. 
Below, below the waters sounded dully. 
ist Slave They call thee mad, and I too fear 

thee, youth. 
How near bethinkst art now unto this water? 
And. A mighty rock suspends above the vault. 
Which when I tear away the path is easy. 
But where is my son? 

ist Slave Desist, man, till the elders 

Determine on this matter. Death doth threat 
If that the waters o'er us surge above. 
And. Below, I say that toil — below, below. 
ist Slave Thou knowest not ; but here are other 
minds. 

\_E71ter several other slaves. '\ 
Hear ye, Androgenus hath hewn his way 
Until — 



QUARRY SLAVES 23 

^d Slave Until he's tired, poor fellow — ha, ha, 

ha. 
We gain that end with toil our taskmen give us, 
And need no farther training. 
ist Slave Let me speak. 

This is no stuff for jest ; he now hath reached 
A point whence he can hear the ocean's roar. 
/f.th Slave Nay, then, we are free — Androgenus 

our saviour ! 
ist Slave But if the water be above — 
Cyth Slave O horror ! 

ist Slave How may it chance that it be not above ? 
Others Aye, it must be, alas ! 
ist Slave Desist from labor, 

Unhappy youth, ere we be overwhelmed. 
Others Desist, ah cease. 

ist Slave Wilt thou, Androgenus? 

And. Most truly slaves ! 

ist Slave Give us thine answer, 3^outh. 

And. What fear ye? 
Slaves Death. 

And. Ye soul-dead slaves ! 

The Fates bestow Elysian life upon you. 
Air and the sun, and bliss of upper regions, 



24 QUARRY SLAVES 

And ye who once were Greeks, O gods ! refuse 

them, 
Choosing the quarry, thrice deserving slaves. 
I st Slave If we but knew — 
And. Then be it death in the waters. 

Give we our challenge even to Poseidon, 
And if we die 'twill be in gaining glory, 
Even as our fathers fought with armed seas 
What time the Persian myriads poured upon them. 
Or shall we linger here in a Hell too early, 
And rear our children throughout generations 
That eyeless, soulless, they spend their dark days 
Untouched by any thought that honors manhood ? 
Nay, rather, challenge we this worthy death, 
Which, slaying our body, to our soul gives life. 
Do we one deed before our doom o'ertake us, 
And die, defeated haply, yet die men. 
^th Slave And so say I — death rather than this 

bondage. 
6th Slave And I. 
yth Slave And I. 

ist Slave But softly, softl}^, friends, 

Be we not rash. Full many have voice in this. 
Not in our hands the fate of all our comrades. 



QUARRY SLAVES 25 

Await the time that all may have their word. 
Meantime, Androgenus, give us thy promise 
Thou v^^ilt desist till numbers give thee warrant. 
And. I have no servile promise. 
Geron {who is among slaves) Hush, my son. 
Enrage them not lest they prevent thy toil. 
Aye, friends, Androgenus hears. Await we counsel. 
This work's too weighty for our single minds. 
Depart we all to rest, the morrow assemble. 
^th Slave Aye, dream we on it. Farewell, Andro- 
genus. 
Slaves Farewell. Farewell. Farewell. 
\_Exeunt slaves . Geron returns ^^ 
Geron My son, my son ! 

Either vs^e die exalted, or we live 
And end this most inglorious life in death. 
But let me too discover thy dear secret. 
And. Aye, Geron, list thou too what thou mayest 
hear. 
\Q^^oi^ passes hito the excavation. There is 
a long pause. ^ 

Is it above or under thee, good Geron ? 
Geron Hark, I hear naught as yet. 
And. Must listen intently. 



26 QUARRY SLAVES 

\^There is another pause. '\ 
How now, good Geron ? 
Geron Hark, I hear not yet. 

[^There is a longer patise.'] 
And. Where, then, the sound? 
Geron N^y? but I hear not yet. 

\^After a very lo7ig pause. '\ 
And. Whence comes the sound? Pray speak, O 

aged friend. 

[Geron comes out slowly. '\ 
Geron Alas ! Alas ! 

And. It is above — ah then 

Our deed will be the nobler. 
Gero7i Nay, not that. 

But mine unhappy ears hear not the sound. 
It is denied mine age to share thy secret. 

\_He looks on Androgenus sadly as thotigh 
doubting. '\ 
And. Even to my younger ears it sounded 

faintly. 
[Geron looks moi^e sadly upoii him., believi?ig 
hint to have been deceived.^ 
But strange the boy comes not. I willed to tell 

him 



QUARRY SLAVES 27 

Myself the first. Do thou too seek him, Geron. 

Geron I shall, good youth. 

And. And I the while shall hew. 

I thank the gods the end is not far now. 

Geron Not far, O youth, not far. Be we in 

hope. 
\^Exit Geron. Androgenus passes into the 
excavation, where for a time he is heard hewing 
intermittently. Enter son and two slaves.'] 
Son Where is he now? Where is he, Cleon? 

Speak ! 
My feet have never hastened so. A fear, 
A nameless fear hath seized me. 
ist Slave. Cheer thee, lad. 

He hath good news. 
Son What news? 

ist Slave An end to labor. 

Son Doth he give o'er the task? But where 

then — 
ist Slave Hark ! 

[ The hewing is heard again. ~\ 
Son Then still he toils — thou saidst he had 

desisted. 
\^They enter the excavation. The great rock 



28 QUARRY SLAVES 

is heard to fall within. The boy rtishes out 
screaming ^ a third slave who enters restraining 
him. The first two slaves bear forth the injured 
Androgenus arid lay him down on an impro- 
vised pallet. The boy^ crushed with griefs does 
7iot obtrude himself but weeps silently near by.] 
And. I fear — I fear I'm somewhat hurt. 
ist Slave Alas ! 

And. It is — it is unfortunate. Delay — 
Delay's annoying now — so near the end. 

\_The slaves have been examiriing him.] 
2d Slave Despatch at once to Geron. He alone 
Can save him. 

ist Slave He alone. 

2d Slave Aye, make all speed. 

\_Exit ist Slave.] 
And. I cannot brook to wait. So long I have 

toiled, 
Patient before, I yearn for the completion. 
2d Slave Aye, friend, forthwith again thou shalt 

be toiling. 
We must have thee made whole ; others may rest, 
Thy sole work must go on unstopped, unhindered. 
And. And hast thou faith? Alack! They are 



QUARRY SLAVES 29 

few that have. 

\_Reenter ist Slave. ~\ 
jst Slave He comes. 
2d Slave Thine aged friend. 

And. The noble Geron. 

\_Enter Geron. Others come in quietly during 
the scene. ^ 
Geron. Alas ! alas ! 

2d Slave Thou wilt save him, Geron. 

jst Slave Aye. 

[ The old man examines Androgenus for some 
mome^its, theft, rising, he pauses before speaking. 
All await his words. ^ 
And. How long — how long, O Geron? What 

delay ? 
Say how long wait must hold me from my task? 
Geron Alas ! and yet again alas ! 
And. Grieve not, good friend, 

But tell the worst. 

Gero7i Alas, Androgenus, 

Thy noble strife is finished — thou must die. 
And. Nay, say not so ; I cannot, cannot die. 
Geron The Fates will not be conquered. 
And. I must live. 



30 QUARRY SLAVES 

There is that to do must fail not. 

Geron Pity, pity. 

A7id. Thou dost surprise me, Geron, — me to die — 

And thou that ever didst give me of cheer. 

How^ shall I die ere I have w^on the light? 

Wouldst thou this race to linger blind forever? 

Geron Alas ! dear youth, the gods deny thy wish. 

The shades of other darkness soon will fold thee. 

And. Thou liest, Geron, though thy hair be 

white. 
Once did one friend at least brook to support me. 

S^He rises in his excitement.'^ 
Henceforth if I alone must go, so be it. 
I tell thee to thy teeth, with all thy leechery, 
I w^ill not die until my work be done. 

\_A spasm of pain seizes him. ^ 
No power shall stay me. 

S^He is stricken again. ^ 

Ah ! my heart, my heart." 
Geron Poor friend, Fate is too strong. 
And. My heart is bursting. {A pause'). 

Alas, to die were sweet — to fail is bitter. (^A 

pause.) 
Where is the boy ? 



QUARRY SLAVES 31 

\_The son now throws himself kneeling at his 
father's side. A great calm has come on Andro- 

GENUS.] 

And. Grieve not. From this hour forth 

Thou hast too weighty a charge to think on grief. 

I willed to win the light, the Fates will other : 

Yet shall we balk them, thou and I, my son. 

I leave thee rich, a legacy of labor. 

Take thou the strength I leave ; be strong hence- 
forward. 
\_His breath is failing him."] 

Complete, O son, my little enterprise. 
\_He dies.~\ 



APR 19 1904 



